Box Score
Louisiana College sophomore Kevin Cottonham has certainly had a flair for the dramatic this season. After hitting a last-second 3-point shot earlier this season to defeat LeTourneau, Cottonham did it again Thursday night in the Wildcats' 93-90 overtime win against Texas-Tyler.
 
With the Wildcats down 3 and just 4.5 seconds left in regulation, Tyler's Travis Dykman missed the front end of a one-and-one. LC's Kevin Lewis grabbed the rebound – passed up ahead for Cottonham – who then drained a 3-point shot from 35-feet out on the left side– and got fouled by the Patriots' Nathan Harbour in the process as the 507 fans at H.O. West exploded. The basket – Cottonham's only 3 of the night tied the game at 82 and gave the Wildcats a chance to take the lead with .7 left.
 
Unfortunately for LC, Cottonham missed the free throw, and instead, the game went into overtime. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the overtime session would go their way, as LC would win a key matchup in the American Southwest Conference.
 
"Coach (Gen Rushing) told me to go to the goal," Cottonham said of the last play. "He told Kevin to look for me… I just jumped up and shot it."
 
The Wildcats, now 10-12, 10-10 in the ASC, were able to win the game in overtime – partially due to the immense foul trouble Tyler found itself in. The Patriots, now 13-11, 12-9, finished the game with 31 personal fouls to LC's 25… but among Tyler's starters, four finished with four fouls and one, guard Jordan Cannon, fouled out with 46 seconds left. Cannon, who finished with 15 points, had given his team an 88-87 lead just seconds before and was especially tough for the Wildcats to stop down the stretch of the game.
 
LC regained the lead when Cannon's fifth foul sent Cottonham to the line. This time, Cottonham converted both free throws to put the Wildcats up to stay, 89-88. He would add four more free throws in the last 25 seconds to finish with a team-high 19 points along with LC's lone senior, Doc Welch.
 
For the Wildcats, the win snapped a 7-game losing streak and moved them closer to Tyler in the ASC standings with two games left and the conference tournament set for next weekend.
 
"Coach told us we need to start a winning streak before the conference tournament," Cottonham said.
 
One development that could certainly help that streak materialize is the return of sophomore forward Anthony Gaines. The Wildcats' leading scorer and rebounder, Gaines had missed the previous six games – all losses – while nursing an injured knee.
 
Gaines made his entrance in the first half and promptly hit a 3-point shot while logging 7 minutes. In the second half and in overtime, Gaines played 17 more minutes – to finish with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and an assist in 24 minutes. His mere presence on the court, especially down the stretch, made a difference in the game, Cottonham said.
 
"It's big. He just gives us energy," Cottonham said.
 
The Wildcats will honor another play who has given them plenty of energy – their lone senior, Welch – prior to Saturday's home finale with Ozarks. The Senior Day ceremony will take place between the LC men's and women's games. The Wildcats then close the regular season Monday when they travel to Clinton for a makeup game with Mississippi College.